You only see what you know (Goethe)
On my train trips to Vienna I often pass the railway station Semmering. Generally I see the station just from my train window. On a hiking tour I got this different view. Looks misty, doesn’t it? By the way the blue-white rail car in the background is a diesel rail car ÖBB 5144.
Time declared by the shadow meets a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Baden bei Wien, there is a decorative sundial, possibly dating from the Art Nouveau period. It adorns a façade of he historic spa town, combining artistic elegance with functional craftsmanship.
Encircled by one of Austria’s best-preserved medieval town walls, Friesach was heavily defended. Against that backdrop, this sign of a shoe shop feels entirely logical. Der trojanische Stiefel (Trojan Boot) is a playful nod to the idea of entering a fortified town by stealth rather than force.
Before I joined a guided tour through the oldest city of Carinthia named Friesach I had a typical Carinthian dish: Kasnudeln. It was a thinly rolled noodle dough that was shaped into a pocket filled with quark and spiced with mint and chervil.
While walking along the city walls of Friesach, I came across this reconstruction of a medieval installation. The German inscription describes it as Bäckertauche. Literature told me this used to be a tool for punishment in earlier times.
On my walk through Friesach, I discovered this clever idea to visualize the medieval gate called Posttor or Olsator in its shape of about 1200 AD. The sign was transparent, so I was able to match past and present.
On my way to Schlierbach Abbey, I came across the abandoned railway station of Schlierbach. Austrian railway stations dating back to the monarchy are very typical. One can recognise them even after 100 years.
While approaching Schallaburg Castle on foot, you first see this tower. It gives an impression of the beauty of this Renaissance palace in the Austrian state of Lower Austria (Niederösterreich). Today, the castle is known for remarkable exhibitions every year.
You find this peculiar detail at Schallaburg Castle (Schallaburg): A sculpture of a man showing his bottom. Such sculptures served as a defence against harm and evil spirits. Together with the Dog Lady, it is one of the most fascinating sculptures in this palace.
In the 13th century, King Ottokar II of Bohemia founded this church as a cathedral. After his death, the building’s meaning lowered to a parish church. Today, the church dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch still provides the architecture of two different intentions.
Marchegg was founded as a planned city by Ottokar II of Bohemia in 13th century. Taking the historic trail gives a good impression how large this city was intended. From the medieval gates the Gate to Vienna (Wienertor) dating back to 1268 is the best-preserved one. [German]
Marchegg Palace (Schloss Marchegg) is a palace near the March river in the east of Austria. Besides its Baroque style it is also worth a visit because of a large stork population in the nearby WWF nature reserve Marchegg.